Hi All - This is my first post. I have two young boys, ages 2.5 and 5 years old, and they are obsessed with trains. I brought them to a museum to see some layouts and they loved it. I must admit that I was also impressed and I've been bitten by the model railroading bug. My wife and I thought it would be fun to get into the hobby with the boys. My only concern is that they might be too young. Given their ages, do you think I should wait until they're a bit older or do you think they're old enough?
I also picked up a copy of Model Railroader magazine and their publication "Getting Started in the Hobby" for HO scale. I'm trying to do my homework before getting started. I figure a basic 4x8 layout in my basement will be the way to go. I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have to offer. Thanks in advance!
~ski
That sounds like a good idea. I have kids aged 3 and 5. They love trains, but have been pretty hard on some of my HO models. I believe O or G (LGB is really sturdy) are probably best.
Regards,
Rob
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
Our son was 2 when he got the train bug! It started with plastic Thomas the Tank Engine and has now graduated up to a huge layout that totals the size of our attic (about 800 sq ft). My cousin bought him his first passenger car and it went from there. He's 14 now and still loves to sit and watch the "real" trains go by & count the cars.
Every year, for Christmas (if available), he gets the President's Choice layout - adding to his collection - he has 13 of them now and next year they will produce the "Anniversary Edition."
We started him off with the oval track (usually set up on the dining room table), wearing a engineer's hat - we helped him with the setup, showed the proper way to handle the cars (and ensured that he handled them correctly everytime!) and he was the engineer (no one else was allowed at the controls). If his sister goes anywhere near his trains, he goes nuts & she's 16!!!! But it has become a family hobby which is great!! His layout, trains, cars, buildings, etc. is probably worth over $6,000 now and still going strong - this is a hobby that will last a lifetime!!!
Are your kids too young?? Absolutely not!!! However, you need to vigilante when first starting off - they will love to pick them up and push them across the carpet (not good for the stock for sure). Go for it, you won't be disappointed.
Kids, and adults tend to drift in and out of hobbies. I have been playing with my choo choos since I was 6 yrs, old. I now have got my 7 yr. old grandson hooked. One thing we did that was fun for him, and safe, was to build a mock up of what he wanted his layout to look like entirely of cardboard. A paper track plan and creating cardboard buildings kept him busy for hours. Then in the spring and summer we went to yard sales and train shows together scrounging for just what we wanted for the real layout! (this also will save you $)
He has started on his buildings now, and with a little assistance learning how to glue neatly makes his own kits. He was so proud of his first $2.00 kit from a train show!
I tried to get my son interested at about 3 years old, but I got hooked instead.
That was 25 years ago....whaahappened?
Ski
They are the right age and will really like learning about the loco's and freight etc.It is a very good education for them and their friends.
However about 7 to 12 they will turn to video games and seem to neglect trains .
I am hoping about 12 and older they will come back to trains and want to learn how they run especially with DCC etc.
My 5 grandchildren are 5,7,9,10 and 12. I started my garden railroad about 7 years ago.
Ron A.
No there not to young and I would recommend O-gauge since its durable.
I have it -- actual photographic evidence that a 4-1/2 year old can be a modeler. Here is my youngest staining cast plaster rocks for use on my Take Your Model Train to Work Day diorama (see the "Four Foot Diorama" thread for full details).
And there's nothing wrong with starting them on Thomas either.... here is a picture of a corner of the layout we're building together.
Now that cold weather (spoken "Train Season") is here again, maybe we'll finish it up!
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Go for it. I'm getting the bug again too. My boys are 2 and 5. My wife thinks I'm playing with all this train stuff for myself. The boys do love it and will climb up on a bench alongside the table to watch the trains run. We just built a new table 5'x10' about 42" high. That will make it easier on my back while modeling it.
Just be careful for grabby fingers.
Enjoy.
Jake1210 wrote: HOtraindude wrote: ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page. I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces. I agree O scale would be the best scale for a young age alexI'm a little creeped out, that is almost Identical to how I started!!! But as far as you kids go, I would let your 5 year old actually operate the train(s) and if you have operating accessories, let you 2.5 year old press but for building "A" to make sound "1" you know, to help him learn cause & effect, and for that I would recommend O scale, as many or the trains have sound, it is simpler to wire, and they are very durable. Though O scale isn't my "Cup-a-tea." And maybe when they get older, switch to HO scale on the board, but keep the O scale for carpet/Christmas use. Just my
HOtraindude wrote: ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page. I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces.
ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page.
I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces.
I agree O scale would be the best scale for a young age
alex
I'm a little creeped out, that is almost Identical to how I started!!! But as far as you kids go, I would let your 5 year old actually operate the train(s) and if you have operating accessories, let you 2.5 year old press but for building "A" to make sound "1" you know, to help him learn cause & effect, and for that I would recommend O scale, as many or the trains have sound, it is simpler to wire, and they are very durable. Though O scale isn't my "Cup-a-tea." And maybe when they get older, switch to HO scale on the board, but keep the O scale for carpet/Christmas use. Just my